Worcester woman guilty of bilking company of $50,000

A Worcester woman pleaded guilty to bilking her employer of nearly $50,000, according to the Middlesex district attorney’s office.

Heather Christianson, 26, pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court yesterday to three counts of larceny of more than $250. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 27.

According to the Middlesex district attorney’s office, while working for Autodesk from October 2007 to September of this year, Ms. Christianson billed the company for tuition reimbursement for classes she never took. She billed the company for tuition at three separate colleges, according to the Middlesex district attorney’s office.

One of the courses was listed as “Ethical Business Decision Making,” the district attorney’s office said.

In another scheme, Ms. Christianson saved various receipts for goods and services already paid for by the company and submitted them for personal reimbursement, claiming to have paid the bills, the district attorney’s office said. The scheme resulted in Autodesk being double-billed for expenses.

Ms. Christianson also used a company credit card to buy personal items for herself, including a camera, and gifts and gift cards for friends and relatives, the district attorney’s office said.

After a routine audit turned up the irregularities, Ms. Christianson was questioned by company officials. She admitted to the allegations, and was fired Sept. 7, the district attorney’s office said. She was indicted in February and arraigned in March.